Inside London’s ‘exploding’ capsule hotel

The capsule hotel model was born in 1979 in Osaka, Japan, designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa to serve office workers who missed the last train home. After nearly half a century, this space optimization model is booming in the most expensive cities in the world, typically London, England, where central room prices are always a barrier to tourists.

St Peter’s Bay is considered the largest capsule hotel in the world, priced at 40 USD (about 1 million VND) for a night’s stay, attracting a large number of tourists. Compared to the general level in London, this number is only a small fraction of that of traditional hotels, often fluctuating at a few hundred USD.

The structure of each sleeping compartment is just a closed space made of plastic or fiberglass, with an area just enough for one person to lie down. Inside is equipped with mattress, pillow, reading light, charging socket and ventilation system. The line between convenience and claustrophobia remains a subject of debate. For those who prioritize streamlining, this is a cozy space, private enough to lie down. Travelers with claustrophobia easily feel confined in a box with a ceiling close to the top of their head.

Noise is one of the biggest limitations of this model. Because the sleeping compartments are stacked on top of each other in a common space, sounds from footsteps, suitcase zippers or conversations in the hallway can easily penetrate inside. Sharing toilets and bathing areas also requires guests to adapt to the culture of community living.

The appearance and success of capsule hotels in the West reflects a change in modern tourism thinking. Instead of paying for excess amenities, new generation travelers tend to minimize their accommodation needs, prioritizing their budget for practical experiences at the destination. In an expensive city like London, exchanging spacious space for central location and low price is becoming a pragmatic choice for many people.

Although born in the 1970s with the original purpose of being a temporary solution for workers, capsule hotels have now evolved into an accommodation segment.